One of the most popular building projects for homeowners, the kitchen extension can create great family space and it can also greatly increase the value of your home.
A good sized family kitchen is a must-have in new properties and one of the top remodelling projects in period homes.
There are several ways to create space, from combining adjoining rooms or adding a conservatory to building a completely new room or digging out the basement, but one of the most popular and least disruptive ways to create ground floor space is to convert an underused garage.
Will you need planning permission to convert your garage?
Permission isn’t usually required for a garage conversion, provided the work is internal and doesn’t involve enlarging the building.
Garages that are listed or located in conservation areas will be less straightforward to convert. In all cases your conversion will have to comply with Building Regulations.
Where you might need permission can include if you want to make your garage into a separate home, or you live in a listed building, conservation area, new housing development, flat or maisonette.
Some councils will also require Planning Permission if you’ll be substantially changing the exterior of your house.
Garage conversions will of course need building regulations approval.
But Local Authority Building Control (LABC) advises that a Full Plans application will provide more security about what work needs to be done.
LABC also advises speaking to an architect or building contractor before beginning the work and you will need to consider the rules around party walls.
There are a number of areas in the regulations your conversion will need to comply with. These include:
Foundations
Structural strength
Windows and ventilation
Weather proofing and insulation
A building control surveyor will inspect the work as it progresses and once it’s finished, they will check windows, fireproofing measures and doors before giving a certificate of completion.
If you are thinking about a new kitchen or kitchen extension, please do contact us for a free, no obligation kitchen consultation.
Or you can always pop in a see us for an initial chat in our kitchen studio in Newcastle Emlyn at 14 Sycamore St.